Tips for Eco-Friendly Lawn and Landscape Care In the early 20th century, lawns became a central part of the American landscape. The White House without its lawn, for instance, would be unthinkable. Today, home lawns throughout the nation comprise roughly 21 million acres. Back yards and front yards are undeniably part of the human landscape, and along with trees, shrubs and other plants, provide important lessons in photosynthesis, water filtration, carbon storing, and more. Parents and children can ensure their home landscape not only provides a healthy place to play and relax, but also does its part in creating oxygen, [.....]

Tips To Make Your Lawn Work Harder and Soak Up More Carbon Choose the right turf grass species. Different types of grass are better suited for different parts of the country. Work with a professional to determine the best species for your local microclimate. Also, be sure to find the appropriate match for your specific landscape conditions such as soil type, average rainfall and sun exposure. And, buy high-quality grass seed. It will be a better investment. Mow your lawn high to develop deep roots. Cutting your lawn too short is a common mistake that can encourage weed growth, increase [.....]

Silver Spring, Md. and Alexandria, Va. (December 8, 2011) – Discovery Education and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced their science-based TurfMutt program has expanded to meet the needs of K-5 educators across the country. The program offers classroom resources for fostering an appreciation of the environment and green spaces through investigation, activities and experiments. In addition to the new resources, educators can enter the ‘Spruce Up Your School’ Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $5,000 grant to give their school’s play area an eco-friendly makeover. Two runners up will receive “Green Packs,” complete with eco-friendly, TurfMutt-branded school [.....]

Alexandria, VA – June 5, 2008 – A turfgrass study conducted by Dr. Ranajit Sahu, an independent environmental and energy expert and University instructor, on behalf of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), shows that responsibly managed lawns sequester, or store, significant amounts of carbon. In fact, healthy turfgrass can capture up to four times more carbon from the air than is produced by the engine of today’s lawnmowers. The findings are based on several peer-reviewed, scientific studies and models where carbon sequestration had been measured in managed and unmanaged turfgrass. The full report is available at our page dedicated [.....]